KCR allows shops to do business 365 days

Good news for shops, traders, business establishments: They can now keep their businesses open for 365 days a year, avoiding closure on holidays and festivals in the State. This was stated by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after a high-level review meeting on Thursday. Based on a feedback from the businessmen and traders, the TRS government had directed the officials to extend the policy for another three years and enable them to function as usual. The Labour Department on Thursday issued a GO in this regard. The deadline of this policy, which was implemented for one year on a pilot basis and evoked good response, came to an end on Wednesday. KCR asked the officials to extend it for the next three years with some riders for protecting the rights of labourers to work for only eight hours a day and 48 hours a week and a holiday every week. The shops and business establishments may remain open from 9 am to 11 pm. The details of laborers should be maintained in a register, given appointment letter, over time should be paid, remittance of salaries to be made in bank accounts and the EPF an ESI facilities be provided to them forthwith. Transport facility should be provided to women laborers after 8.30 pm. The Chief Minister opined that the businessmen, traders and those who open up shops should not be forced to shut on holidays and festivals and instead encourage them to do business as usual.